Fundraising
Blue Envelope Give Campaign
On November 4th, 2024, our PTA will kick off its annual Blue Envelope Direct Give Campaign!!!
At Fairmount Park we keep our fundraising simple and straightforward. Instead of multiple asks (auctions, fun-runs etc..), our PTA encourages a one-time per year donation, and this year’s suggested amount is $300 per student. We recognize that different families have different finances and encourage you to donate the amount that feels right for your family. Our goal is for every family to return their Blue envelopes regardless of the level of giving. Every year we see a range from $0 to well above the per-student ask. 100% participation is an important goal! Please note any donation amount can be broken into monthly payments by using PayPal.
We know this year’s per student ask is big. SPS’ ongoing budget crisis means we are getting less district funding and our PTA has to provide significantly more funding than we did in the past to maintain the staff and services the Fairmount Park community needs to thrive.
As a thank you for your participation, each student who returns their blue envelope receives a Fairmount Park Sticker.
Each classroom that returns all of their envelopes with or without money receives a Cookie Party (allergy free options available) and Extra Recess.
What does my donation support?
- $32,000 The 4th & 5th Grade Instrumental Program.
- $20,000 School Supplies ($55 per student)
- $12, 000 Classroom Teacher Grants
- $12,000 Specialist Teachers Grants
- $10,000 Food Support Program
- $10,000 Assemblies
- $8,500 School Events
- $8,000 Classroom Snacks
- $5,000 Enrichment Scholarships
- $4,000 Equity Events
- $3,000 Field Trip Scholarships
- $1,300 Social Emotional Learning Program
- $1,500 Robotics Program K-2
- $1,500 Teacher Appreciation Week
Frequent Asked Questions
Why Do PTAs Fundraise at All?
Many would agree that, ideally, PTAs shouldn’t be fundraising, that the state should fully fund public education. But the reality is Washington state chronically underfunds education and this has only gotten worse in recent years. 1) McCleary, a 2012 Washington State Supreme Court case meant to address historic underfunding of rural districts, has over-corrected things such that urban districts like Seattle are not getting their fair share of education dollars. Especially given the cost of living crisis in Seattle, it simply costs more for our teachers to live here and more for us to fund their salaries and we are not getting this funding from the state. 2) Education funding as a % of overall state funding has decreased from approximately 50% to 42% in recent years. Put another way, the state is underfunding education by approximately $4 billion a year. 3) To limit state funding on education the state arbitrarily caps the % of special education services it will fund to 10% of the student population. But in Seattle the special education population is more like 14% – and this “extra” 4% of students are morally, ethically and legally entitled to receive the special education services they need. This creates a big hole in SPS’s budget.
Why Are you Asking for So Much?
Faced with financial scarcity and impossible choices, the district has to decide where to deploy its too limited funds. Sensibly, there is an equity-tiering model to funding, and schools deemed less in need both because of the socio economic background of the students and because of test scores, get less funding. Fairmount Park had significant cuts in teachers. We are now down to .5 Music and .5 Art. The PTA decided to step up and pay for the Instrumental Music Program, so we can keep this very special program that 90% of 4th and 5th graders participate in. The PTA also decided to bulk buy classroom supplies, to keep the cost down for parents and to make sure teachers had exactly what they requested for their classrooms. Less stress all around!!
What Do I Do With My Blue Envelope?
Our goal is for every family to return their blue envelopes regardless of the level of giving. Every year we see a range from $0 to well above the per-student ask. 100% participation is the goal! Please complete the enclosed response form and return it in the blue envelope to your child’s homeroom teacher. Even if you donate online, or are choosing not to donate at all, please return the response form and blue envelope for each child you have at Fairmount Park.
When is the deadline?
Response forms and red envelopes should be returned to your student’s homeroom teacher (or submitted online) by Friday, November 15th.
Can I use a credit card to donate money?
Yes! You can pay with a credit card via the 99Pledges Fairmount Park Page. Please be sure to also submit a paper or digital donation form so we can track your donation. You can also submit cash or a check payable to Fairmount Park PTA. Please note PayPal charges a non-profit collection fee of 1.99% + $0.49 per transaction. You can choose to offset these charges when you donate.
Can we spread our donation throughout the year?
Yes! You can set up recurring monthly donations via PayPal.
Do you accept employer matches?
YES!!! Every year, employer matches play a big part in our red envelope campaign. Click Here to see local businesses that have corporate matching. Please reach out to your employer and request matching funds. Please indicate the name of your employer in your Blue Envelope form (paper or digital) so that the PTA can anticipate the matching gift. If you need more information, please email us at fundraising@fairmountparkpta.org.
Is my donation tax-deductible & Receipts?
Yes! Please email Valerie Ray at treasurer@fairmountparkpta.org if you would like a letter documenting your contribution to Fairmount Park PTA. Our Tax ID is 46-5002849
Can you join the fundraising committee? Have an idea?
Email fundraising@fairmountparkpta.org.